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LETTEIl 



MILITARY GOVEEHOIt OY NOETK CAROLINA, 



COL. IIMM A. GILLIAM, 

REFUTING CERTAIN CHARGES AND INSINUATIONS MADE BY 

HON. GEORGE E. BADGER, IN BEHALF OF THE 

SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. 



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\y 



'Nev,- Bern, July 17lh, 1SG2. 
Col. Henry A. Giilia.m : 

^Deur Sir — I leceived lately, by flagj of truce, a copy of a lonfr and 
elaborate epistle, directed toyoii, from my excellent and still much loved fViend 
Jlr. Geo. E. Badfjer. It is proper I should trouble yen with some remarks to 
do justice to myself and to you. I fear I shall be tedious, but as I wish to be 
accurate, I must copy what I intend to contradict or correct. 

Mr. Badger nays, in the bej^inning of bis letter, he would "scarce" be 
induced to believe me capable "of any wilful fal.sehood or baseness," on 
account of his good opiHion of me heretofore. In familiar piirase, this is a 
compliment " over the left"--" uaninino- with faint praise" — but I pass it by 
without retort. It is true I hare loved him and his family very .'lincerely, and 
have clierished Irs gfood opinion of me. But I should rcc^ard myself as un- 
worthy of the respect of any honorable man, if 1 could be driven from what 
I deem the path of duty by even the assurance that I could therby secure 
forever his undiminished respect. 

Mr. Badp:er says vny position, as Military Governor, has run me into 
"manifold inconsistencies," and subjected me to " prave suspicions," Tlie 
'"suspicions" I can and do disregard. I submit to him, in his calmer hours 
— if he ever has them in these sad times — whether in writing of me, of ouo 
of his owi\ blood, be had not as well omit 8uch e.xpressiont ? But as to the 
"inconsistencies," I utterly deny them. I contradict his assertion as posi- 
tively as it can be done respectfully — for his unjust luuendoes cannot make 
me disrespectful. As an evidence of this inconsistency, ho says that " winter 
" before last, he ( Mr. S. ) wrote me from k^an Francisco, and referring to the 
*' tlien threatening prospect of our affairs, he said in substance, " if there is 
"to be a sectional contest in this country, my place is with North Carolina, 
" and when you ^.Mr. Badger) notify me that she necde my services, I shall 
•'be there." 

And Mr Badger argues, lam inconsistent, because no%v I am with tlio 
jnemies "of Nuuh Carolina— an araiy seat hero fur her subjugaliou." 






STS 



T rhallenfre fb^ production of the letter: I suppose Mr. Hadi^^er I.as ti.e 
T,r J at hand" Let 1 im produce it. I wish not to be guilty ot the discouit^-sy 
Stn ^dieting . hat he says, but 1 wish it distir.ctly understood, that .f Mr. 
i Ld charged that I said in that letter that Gen Washington .vas a fool. 
Alexander Hamilton a jackass, and WebMer a blockhead : because they en- 
trained such opinions of our (Jovernment, us Wr Badger and n.yselt had 
entertained : if he had charged that I had .n that ett.r asser ed *''f .<^ f "::"" 
racy was a heavenly iuslitution, and that the resolutions o Je and 99 con- 
tained the only ^ound doctrine of political taith. and that Jetie.vcon was 
neither H hypocrite or demagogue, but a truth telhng gentleman, he could 
uut have more surprised UiO than he has by this assertion 

With all the coiitideuce that memory justihes and respect aUow5, 1 
contradict most positively the assertion that I ever used any language 
iu^tifyingthe unjust coustructiou he puts upon it. lou and Mr Badger, 
tud all who know me, well know I ever held Secession and hulliticatiou 
as Treason I n ight well retort upon him and olhor estimable men— 
"stars 8hot madiy from their spheres '—where are all your declarations, 
and thousands of speeciies on .^eceasion .' Where are all your prophecies 
of the horrors of civil war, which Secession would biuig on us ? _ Lut 
Mr Badger is disposed to tiifle, when he refers to my "inconsistencies — 
He knows— no man knows better-I never tried to be consistent. I have 
always tried to do right, nevei thinking or caring whetherfnencs or enenues 
would n-'^ard what I was about to do as being consistent with what I had 
i.reviuusly done. Clay on the Bank ; Webster on the Tantf; Calliouu on 
Internal improvements; Badger on the Kansas and Nebraska bills, etc.— for 
aud against it as reported to me, in the course of a few days, but afterwards 
niaguauiniously admitting he had done wrong in voting tor it— who tears 
after these illustrious examples to be charged with inconsistency ? 

The history of that letter is this. Keverdy Johnson, on his way from 
San Francisco, "to the Atlantic, in November, IdliO, wrote to me from Acapulco, 
urging me to come to Noilh Caiolina, to do what I could to prevent the 8e- 
cessio"nists from entangling her in the diabolical scliome of dissolving the 
Union. I wrote the letter Mr. Badger refers to, asking him if he thought i 
could be of any service. Service in doing what? Of course, in preventing 
the thrtatened mischief- the danger of involving us in the unimagis'<.blo 
horrors of civil war. So great was my confidence in him, I should have 
come, had he thought I could have prevented what has happened. 1 ceriainly 
never dreamed ot "coming for any other purpose. And no matter what aie 
the words of my letter, his reply to me, which 1 have preserved in San Fran- 
cisco, will show he then unuersloud me, as I now assert, it was my intentiou 
to be understood. 

So much lor my "manifold inconsistencies." 

Mr. Badger's remarks, about the " army of subjugation," I will not tres- 
pass by answering. I have done so elsewhere in public. If it is " subjuga- 
tion," it is such as Washington, Marshall, Hamilton, Webster, Clay, and 
Badoer have advocated and foretoid, if ever such a coulestarose, as has arisen. 
Mr. Badgi;r proceeds: 'Again, according to ycur letter to Winston, Mr. 
" Stanly admits, that the secession of thi.s State, was at the time right." 

If you bO understood any remark of mine, I was altogether misunder- 
stood, "l never thought so. If 1 had, I should not have hesitated to say so. 
Mr. Badger says fui ther : 

"He (Mr Stanly) admits that we cannot honorably secede from our 
" position, whilst Virginia retains hers, and yet he comes here to induce us 
•' now to secede fiom it, which he confesses we cannot vrith honor do." 

The answer is, that I never admitted any such thing. I never thought 
the conduct of Isorth Carolina was to be intlueucod by that of Virginia, more 
than by that of South Caiohiui, or Tennessee 1 never made any such 
Cijufeb»iion. 



■Wfiatever Mr. Bflilgfcr may }i«ve tlioiij:lit onoo of n-y iutcjrity and 
l^onor, 1)0 could,'" scMrce be induced'" to (Link I liad nr\y sbiiae left, it I had 
made all the sdaiissioiis aiid coufLssioDs ho seems to think 1 niade. 

Mr. Badger saj's furl her: "He (Mr. Stanly) thinks when Virginia returns 
'■ to the Union, we nuiy honorably return, anJ not till then: theu why not 
" postpone his attempts njion u.*, until Virginia returns." 

Jlr. Stanly " think.s " no fiieh thing-: nevor thono;ht so, and therefore 
does not " postpone '' tr.5 ing; what iie can do, to relieve hi.s native land from 
lljo liorrors that tiireaten to overwiielni her. 

ilr. Bacfg'er says : " lint liow does he make out, that we owe nothinj^ iu 
'• honor, to tlie other Confederate States." 

Mr. Stanlv, I answer, never (denied that North Carolina owed as much to 
the other Confederate vStates a? to Virrjinia. It would be amusinp;, al any 
other time, to see Mr. Badp;ei thus niakino; men rf straw, and then using; his 
{giant's streng:t!) in deslioyiufy thetn. He shows prodifrious skill in annihilat- 
ing; arjjuments I never made, and routinj^ me from position.s I never assumed. 

It is obvious that from your account to him I was misunderstood After 
I learned, on the moruincf after my arrival, in what tireumstanees yen were 
here. I saw Geneial Burnwide, and suceeeded in h.-iving^ you released from 
all su.'spicion of having' given any causo of censure. Then I explaitied to 
you what my purposes were in eominp hero, because it might not be proper 
to write to any of my friends. Wkile speaking to you of nij- hopes of peace 
for North Carolina, it was suggested by 3'ou notliing could be done during 
the iirpending conflict at Richmond. I felt the force of this, and said so ; but 
remarked, after this is over, why cannot honorable terms be proposed ar.d 
listened to'.' That by the Constitution of the Confederate States each one 
vas sovereign and independent, and reserved a right to secede, and that 
North Carolina, I supposed, could iulDrm hersister States what she intended 
to do. Further than this, I never admitted, even for argument sake, tliat 
North Carolina was bound in honor to wait the action of V^irginia. 

Mr. Badger adds : " Mr. Stanly seems to suppose there is a strong attach- 
" nient amongst our people for the old Union, and' a secret longing for a re- 
" turn to it. In this he is utterly mistaken ; our people detest the North, and 
" especially the si.K New England States. " 

I cannot yield, even to Mr. Badger, that he is better acquainted with 
the people in the counties I have visited than I am. He was never remark, 
able tor his knowledge of the people, and always acted independc-nt of their 
opinion.s, having more admiration of the aristocratic Coriolauus, than of the 
democratic Absalom, " who stole the hearts of the men of Israel " when he 
put foith his hand and kissed them. I do not " suppose, " I kjunc there is a 
strong attachment amongst our people to the old Union. I know there is not 
nierclj' a " secret longing. ■' but an openly expressed regret at the horrid ca- 
lamities to follow the etJbrts of those who wish to prevent their return to it, 
and at the endless misery to follow if they are successful. And this feelings 
is not confined to counties where the forces of the United States are. I 
speak from accounts received from gentlemen altogether as reliable upon 
matters of fact as Mr. Badger is. 

I know the people of North Carolina, if the wicked effort to destroy the 
Union could be successful, would never prefer to be a colony of Great Bri- 
tain, as Mr. Badger has said she would, to being again united with even tiie 
six New England States. 

The people of this good old' State, now acting by the influence of a mi- 
nority, down to a late period, " loathed in their souls " the idea of forming a 
Southern Confederacy, of which South Carolina was a member. Down to 
a late period the people of North Carolina, and with just cause, " detested " 
the State of South Carolina, whose leading men, our own gr^at Gaston, in 
rebuking their sneers at our State, and condemning their secession doctrines 



ns treason, iSMiJ, " would be the Catalines of the hlstorian.^aiul llie Captaii'i 
liobadi'ls ot tlie poet." 

Vjven if Mr. Badg'er were oorrect. it woukl be as easy when honor and 
interest alike demarided it. to lay aside the present as she did iLo former 
" dsteStafioii and loathing," 

Mr. Badgrer does me tite honor to uafice a speech I lately made at 
A\ asliirjg-ton. ^olth Carolina, and says ; "That while I deay my j^urposa 
" to insult " the people of North Carolina hy coming: here — a fanciful idea, 
nnd unv.-orthy of fim — " he, Mr. Stanly, prf))ioses to our people, to return to 
" the old Union now, whicii he himself think.s we cannot with honor do." 
I answer I never thousrht or said any such thing ; and if he will read all I 
said he will see I could not have Ihoufrhtso. 

Mr. Badg^er's SHcer at my "persuasions and reasoQs," I pass by without 
remark. 

Fie proceeds and alleges, that I enforce compliance — " with my feasors 
'" for a return to the Union, — by tlireats cf the punishment which awaits us, if 
" we do not yield. Is not that to insult us ? " 

/ tlire'iltn North Carolina with puni.shment ! /who have served her 
faithfully, Avho inherited a devotion to her interests and honor, and have 
been as disinterested ici my efforts for lier welfare, as even he Badg'er can 
claim to be. / thri>aten her with punishment, wliile I have abandoned my 
private inierests, my hiisiiiess, and the couiforts of a happy home, to sav^i 
her from the constantly accumulating; lioirors of civil war. / thieaten her ! 

I did not correct or revise this spcpi-h and have not a copy before me. 
Much of tlie lanjTHacfe is not mine. I will not charge Mr Badp;er with inten- 
tional niisreprt'sontation, for to use his own words — "so deep is my cojivicii(]n 
"of his intpgriity and honor, I could scarce be induced to believe iiim capa- 
" ble of wilful " misrejiresentatioti, — still such strange misconstructions of 
my opinions will subject liim to " grave suspicions." of writing' under 
Etronp: excitement, and foigettinp the friend, wliile he plays the advocate of 
a cause he has loathed aud detested for many years of his brilliant and 
illustrious life. 

Nothino; could induce me to threaten North Carolina I feared the addi- 
tional tioubies to come, if this war lasted, and thouarht it rifjht to point out 
the dan<rer — as he has donj for many years — to befall those I loved. 

Mr. Badg'er's attempted witticism of the "relative power of Hell and 
the United .States," is unworthy of him. The lancruan:e attributed to mo 
yvus not mine. It is true, I did refer to the great power of the United States, 
%vho witii all their exhibition of unparalleled ability to carry on war, were 
desirous of peace, and I mentioned what a military man. a foreigner, had 
said of the extiaordinary achievement of the capture of the forts below New 
Orleans, which he had examined a few weeks before and gave his opinion 
they could not be taken. 

And this too, is constined to mean " insiilt " to North Carolina ! 

The truth is. my excellent cousin had condemned me unheard, and upon 
this subject I am complained of with as little justice and fairness as tlie 
wolf in the fable complained of the lamb, for muddyinsr the w.-^ter. He ii.-id 
expressed his opinion before he knew my views, and like Dr. .S«.ngrad(), had 
written a book, ar:d could not therefore change his opinion. It would hav« 
involved him in manifold incorisisteiices. It was this foreijiner who said, 
and not, I, that when the people of the United States, made up their minds 
to do ai.ytluMg, all the povveis of darkness could not prevent them. I n''ed 
not repei't, that I have never " admitted " North Carolina was bound by her 
Jiouor to maiatain her present position. 

ilr. Badger then proceeds to say. " Again Jlr. Stanly denies that Yan- 
" kees come to insult our women " * * ];nt what does he say of Bntler'« 
" proclamation at New-Orleau? ? appro re^d and sauctioiied by the admini*- 



*' tration m it m donht is, «ince no disavowal lias been lieard in ti>« many 
'■ weokg since tliat base avid infamous paper was ushf*rfed to tin? world." 

I aui not tlie defender of Gen. Butler's conduct in that or in other 
s'Pfipectg. Tie is one of those party jug-fiflers, who have been for yoars, a^ita- 
tin;jr' the slavory question, buildinir political platforiiia, with laudations of tlia 
resolutions of 9-i and 99, --the bitter fountaiu. fr<ini whence our prasent trou- 
bles tiow He i» one of those longf boasted friends ot the South, that tha 
democracy for so many years told our people couhl be relied on to fight for 
tliefij ag^aiust abolitionists. " These bo thy Goda, O ! Israel, which brought 
thee np out of the land of Egypt." 

But I never conceived it was the duty of the President to disavow every 

^act of any General or other otTicer, by formal proclamation. If he did, ha 

ought also to i^.sue another, and comnnend Butler for hanging four men who 

robbed the house of a citizen of New Orleans. But I have never heard ai>y 

Yankee officer exprsss approbation of that proclamatiou. 

Will Mr. Badger tell me what person in office, under the Confederata 
authorities, has expressed disapprobation of the villainous slander of Beau- 
regard, charging the United States forces with coming in the South witli 
" beauty and booty " as their watchwords .' and tliis too when tho wive.'* 
and families of somo of the leaders in the rebeliioa were living in thesa 
Yankee States! • 

When did any oflicer under Confederate authority disaTow the barbarou.s 
conduct of their soldiers, in shooting pickets, and poisoiaing meats and • 
wells — and in perpetrating numerous other enormities ? I have tiot Butler'.^ 
proclamation to reiVr to, and do not remombar that I ever read it. J!ut I 
learn trom intelligent gentlemen connected with tiie army, that there wero 
base creatures in New Orleans, having no respact for the decencies of life, 
who had provoked tho soldiers by abusing them in the streets. Butler haii 
issued an order, commanding all such wretches to ba put in custody Some 
respectable women forgetting themselves, had frequently indulged in terms 
of strong censure and insult calculated to provoke unrefined men in tha 
the army. Butler's proclamation was, as I learn, a threiU, tbat those women 
if guilty of such conduct on the street should be treated • as women of thn 
town," meaning thereby to have them also arrested, according to the proviou* 
order. I give this, as I received it, having inquired becausa Mr. B. a^ked 
so earnestly: "what does Jlr. Stanly say of Sutler's proclamation at New- 
Orleans."' If Butler's proclamation justities ^[r,. Badger's interpretation 1, 
Ike all tiie gallant ofHccrs of the army wheal I have heard speak of it, would 
condemn it. as decidedly as he does. 

No nation, no party is safe, if the unworthy conduct of one man brings 
censure upon all. It would be as nnjust to accuse every officer of the army, 
of being at) abolitionist, because Geneial Ilnnter cut such a faetastic trick, 
tlie trnlli being, that his proclamation is condemned by every oflicer vvhom I 
have heard speak of it. 

Mr. Badgei' then procoe's as follows : " Again, Mr. Stanly in the ?ama 
'■* speech, refers to Mr. Lincoln's disavowal of General Hunter's order, for- 
"freeing tho slaves in liis military district, leaving his hearers to suppose, 
" that Mr. Lincoln's revocation of that order proceeded from his opposition 
" to the measure of emancipation, whilst the reason assigned by bim was 
" that he reserved that matter to himself, and had committed it to no military 
" commander, which if Mr. Stanly desired to give true arid full information 
" to his hearers, he ought to have mentioned, but did not." 

It is hai-d to repres.s the expression in decided terms, of t]i« indignatioa 
I feel, at reading such language as applied to me, even by Mr. Badger. 

I have already said the published speech was not corrected hy me. It 
vr-rs not reported by one practised in such matters, or by ray request. But 
"evil communications corrupt good matinsrs." Mr. Badger's association 
with traitors, to wham La uo.vrendurs the respect, iie thinks due to their 



a 

oflirirtl stations, but for whom lie lias dnwn to tbis " revolution," cntcrtainod 
nothing: but contempt, makes liim foig'etful of the respect and charitj' due 
tea kinsman, and a friend, whose name has never yet been tarnished by. 
an accusation from any respectable quarter, of beings capable of witbholdinf^ 
*' true information " from the people who had honored him, and whom he 
honored. Mr. Stanly, tell hiiu, "left bis hearers to suppose"' nothing; he 
spoke out fuily all lie thought, and all he feared^ Mr. Stanl}"^ told the people 
iu the most solemn and earnest manner, tbat the President's proclamation 
was fall of meaning^, that he evidently intended to give ti iiely warning, 
that if this war continued, emancipation ia some form might be inevitable. 
Tell him, if you see him, that Mr. Stanly distinctly told the people of Beau- 
fort County, that if this war lasted another year, uader what was called the 
" war power," emancipation he feared won^ld be inevitable. I think I sai^ 
the same thing to you. I know 1 have often lo various other g-entlemen. 

I did not profess ta agree with, or defend the political opinions of the 
President, or his Cabinet, nor those of the present Cong^ .ess. But I said can- 
didly what I believed their opinions were, in illustration I remember to iiavo 
stated, there were nearly five thousand negroes in New Kern ; tbat as the 
army advanced, they would come — that this could not be prevented — that to 
send them back by aoldier.s was forbidden by law — that I would promise 
protection to any loyal citizen, who, with his neighbais, would take hi.'? 
negroes home — and that the idea of beinjj benefitted by the long talked of 
intervention of England and France was all a delu.'Sion and a snare, for that 
iaterventiari would make matters worse by precipitating the horrors to which 
I referred, of eniancipatioM, durin<? the existence ©fa civil war. What I said 
was not spoken in a corner. It was spoken for public consideration. I have 
no objection that all I have said, or written, shall be pubi'shed to the world. 

If Mr. Badger has any respect for me, any desire to do me justice, I wish 
liim to understand, I am as incapable of withholding^ " tiue infoi mation," 
aspecially upon matters of huch inestimable importance, as I am of intimating; 
that aa honorable gentleman had done so 

Mr. Badger proceeds: ' " Again, Mr. iStanly assumed to execute the laws 
" of North Carolina, when he closed the negr« schools, yet he requires tiia 
" oath of Mliogiance, according ta his Washington speech, as a condition 
" of surreudering to their masters their fugitive slaves. Now, what law of 
" North Carolina make.s a man's right to his property depend upon his taking; 
'■ any oath ? And how does Mr Lincoln or Mr. Stanly obtain authority to 
" require such an oath t Therefore, the assumption of carrying out the laws 
" of the fctate is illusory and means but this: — to follow the law of the 
" State, wheQ he likes, and set itaj^ide whtn he dislikes it." 

You perceive I make full extract."!, that I may do no injustice. 

Now it is not a fact, that I ever assumed, or thought of assumino", to 
" execute the laws of North Carolina." The whole stattuient arose in groi's 
error, which has been corrected bj' ths author of the report and published 
ia papers which Mr. Badger has not seen. I did very decidedly condemn 
the teaching of slaves to read and write, for several reasons — which may 
hereafter be published — stating, also, that I came on a mission of peace, to 
cdHciliate the people of the Stat&, and it would not strengthen their confidence 
ia me if I were to begin by approving a violation of her laws. 

It is not fair to charge that I required " the oath of allegiance, as a condi- 
" ttoQ of surrendering to their masters their fugitive slaves." I have stated, 
the law forbade that soldiers should aid iu restoring them, to any persons, 
whether they had taken the oath or not. 

'ihe only letter of instruction I rsceLved, directed me " to provide the 
means of maintaining peace and security' to the loyal iuhabitauts" of tha 
State. And therefore aiy power was limited, in promising prot&ction to those 
who wished to r«claim th«ir fugitive slaves. Tiiat is Mr. Stanly's -'.-iuthority." 

As to Mr. Liucoln'ji "authority," is Mr, Dadgor guilty of the ab.surditj' 



of arpuinj:, tliut tliose who sic tvyiiip to destroy the Constitution of tha 
United States, and nullifying; tiieir laws, shall still claim protection of their 
armies, and demand a restoration ot their slaves, to aid tliem in the abominable 
umpose ol destroying; the Government? Does he mean to contend that the 
president has no power or right to distinguish betwean loyal citizens and 
those in arms against the Gov9rnti:ent ? No right to instruct public officert 
to protect loyal citizens and to withhold protectieii from public enemies ? 

Has not ttie Government of the so called Confederate States required 
flny oaths of those who claim their protection? Are not good men every 
day dragged away and imprisoned, only for refusing to takn such an oath — 
and for believing in the correctness of Mr. Badger's teaching, during many 
years, and as late as November. 1860 ? 

Although I have no hope of convincing him of error, surely, after what 
I have said, he must admit, that when he charged nie witii the illusory as- 
sunjption, of "following the law of the State, when 1 liked, and settirg it 
'■ aside when I disliked," ho ibrgot not only what was ju»t to me, but whiit 
was bsconiiug in him." 

After Mr. Badger haiS gone, as he says, "fully into the whole matter, " 
after exhausting his great ability in auswerin* arguments I never made, he 
condescends to refer to what he calls an instance of ' stupendous Yankee ly- 
ing. " He refers to an editorial in the Newbern Progress, cf 28th May last, 
professing to give an account of the procaedings of the North Carolina Con- 
vention. 

I never saw the article to which he refers. I shall not take the trouble t» 
look it up But if Mr. Badger thinks that " stupendous lying "can be achieved 
oniy by Yankee editors, he is greatly mistaken. I have before me, the only 
number of that excellent paper, the Fayetteville Observer, that I have seen 
for more than a year. It is dated July 7th, 18(32. On the third page, and sixth 
column, it copies an article from the "Richmond Dispatch, " professing to 
give an account of a " fight between Maryland and Massachusetts Yankees. " 

The Disjiutch says it is " highly iaiportant ; " " thinks it may be rolieil 
" upon. It states as follows : — 

"A fight occurred in Newborn, in which Massachusetts and Maryland 
"soldiers became involved. A regiment of each became engaged— :3UU of 
" the New England men were said to have been killed, and 150 of the Mary- 
landers. The disturbance arose about the negroes within their lines there. 
" The Massachusetts men proposed to send a lot of them to Cuba for sale. It 
" was opposed by the Mary landers. Since hearing the above, Mr. E. P. La- 
tham confirms the report. '' 

Mr. Badger, " if he desires, may get the paper and see." Now I assert 
I never before heard of this. I cannot find any officer, t*r private, or citizen, 
■who ever before heard of it. There has been no dispute between any legi- 
ments, and no soldier has died except from sickness, or from wounds received 
in battle. " The whole statempnt is a fabrication out and out." And thia 
i« the material out of which public opinion is formed in this State I 

I do not doubt that Mr. Badger speaka honestly his opinion of public sen- 
tiHieut in this State. 1 have the hardihood to differ with him. But whether 
that be so or not, it will not lessen the calamities of this tiorrid war. But the 
idea of my oU'ering " insult " to the people of North Carolina because I am » 
citizen of another State : that it is a domestic affair, and that mine is a "for- 
eign interference"— coming from atay one else, 1 should say, was simply 
ridiculous. 

I inherited the glorious birthright of being a citizen of North Carolina, 
under the Constitution ef the United States. It is a right of iuesiimabla 
talue to me and to millions of my conntrymen. It is a right I will not pait 
with, with the blessing of God, if I can by any efforts or sacrifice secure it. 
Thf^ '■ denunciation of the press '—I have known it for more than a ijuart-r 
jf a ccuUiry— wlicther of secession or abolitiou, 1 treat witii conlcuipt.— 



J liave lired loncc erioiifjli to Itnow tbat tlie jniblic favor wliich is ruiz 
after is not worth having'. With an uiifalterinfj trust in Divine i'revi- 
dcnee, Bupportcd by a conscionsress of the purity ami disinterestedneisg 
of Hiy niolives, no threats of fancied execration ?hall turn ine tisido 
from the path I i»tend to pursue. Mr. Badger intimafes I am the " dope of 
a vile party. '" He may Iny the flattering- unction to his soul, that in this lio 
is deceived. He will learn that I am prepared to resist the efforts of one rila 
party, more nnl3inchin<:ly and successfully than he has those of another. 

When Mr. Badoer, in spite of his anp^er, is couipelled to say — with some 
things I wish his remaining affection had suf^gested liim to leave unsaid — 
thatlny " personal friends would duly estimate the purity of my prineiples,'' 
lie arms mo with resolution and cemfort that ten thousand Bscessionists cau- 
iQot destroy. 

Mr Badger thinks I have been tempted by the " glittering bait " of my 
l^resent positioB to bring down censur« upon an honored nan»e. From him, 
this is the " unkindestcut of all. " Will he allow his memory to run back a 
few years, when 1 was a younger man, when tlie whisperings of ambitioa 
told a flattering tale, when I set a higher value ujson honorable public dis- 
tinction than I now do — sobered, 1 trust, by experience and the better hopo 
he hais eetiaae the noble example of cherishing — will he call to mind any oc- 
casion in which I ever hesitated to overrule any friend who sought toad- 
Vance me, wheal could by refusing a " glittering bait, " elevate an honsst 
aiad better man, more able to conft^r honor on our beloved Nortk Carolina 
than I was? Cannet he remember the "glittering baits" of high popition 
tliat I have refused when a citizen of North Carolina? I know he did net 
mean what ha said, it was ths graceful finish of a well turned sentence, 
"designed merely to point a moral, t-r adorn a 'ale. " 

I have no fear of being accused, if my name shall be remembered of 
having been tempted by "a' glittering bait," to become "a dupe," I have 
more apprehension that the future historian of these terrible days, will 
express his regret, that he who at the bar, w.is the rival of Gaston, and 
. Kulifin, in the Senate ttie peer and equal of Wfbster, Clay, and Crittenden, 
like them distinguished for great abilities, and for his devotion to ths Con,«ti 
tution and the Union, and hi.s abhorrence of Secession and Treason, beloved 
by all who knew him for his kiadness of heart, and the spotless purity of his 
private life, thnt he, forgetful of hi.s duty to his whole country, under a, 
strange delusion, threw away a pearl "richer than all his tribe!" — his 
national reputation, — and was regarded in the latter years cf his life as tho 
Habakkuk I\[ucklewrath of Secession. 

lam not alone in this apprehension. Many friends who were entitled to, 
and enjoyed his regard, now high in public stations and in private lifo, are 
;filled with mortification, surprise, and sorrow, that one of the foremost mcu 
of modern times, should have so fallen from his high estate. 

Mr. Badger says I am hero "surrounded by Yankee bayonets." I couM 
come here in no other way. Imprisonment in a dungeon but not in this 
stale would have been my fate, bad I attempted to have appealed as a private 
citizen, to the people of North Carolina te lay down their aims. 

I am surrounded by bayonets in the hands of those who wish for peace 
who are contending to secure to every citizen of ttjis State, all the rights 
and privileges that they ars trying to secure for themselves If I can have 
any assurancerl could be allowed to have free and unrestricted intercourse 
with the people of North Carolina, to meet the chosen champions of Secession 
in public assemblages, I would not hold the position I occupy for another 
hour. It becomes not we to say how much of good I have done. Let tho 
future speak in this world or the next I have done violence and wrong 
to n© man ; but have tried to protect the helpless and relieve the suffering of 
the destitute, white and black. I cannot see what possible harm I can do, 
fcithtr to the State or to any good man m it. 



9 

Though I have fo It hurt at some exprpssioris in Mr. BMjjjer's Itttcr, I 
have written nothiii": in unkindncss 1 make all ailiiwaiice (or his fc<Hi!ii;s, 
always strotig, sometimes, j)erlia[is, ungnvernable. I know he has uiiiicn 
iBOre in sorrow than in anwer. lie, and those dear to iiim. are and ever will 
be dear to me. And if I thong-ht that any ihing' I iiad written woui 1 pive 
bun a pan<^, — though he would iorj;et and forgive it— it would be to me a 
source of unceasing sorrow during the rcn:an)dei of my life 

I l;ave written more than you can read with jialience. I need not apolo- 
^'ize for doing so. Mr. Badger's letter was evidently an answev to my speecli, 
wiiicli was not accurately report' d. I had been niis-undersiood by you, as 
appears from his letter. His letter was lorviarced too, under a Hag v\' truce — 
■sent lor this special purpose — "at the rtqv<st of the (lorcrvor of JSmtli ('amliiui,'' 
by a " Brigadier-General of the Army otPamplieo." It seems, liierefore, this 
Ittter was written by the approbation of the public authorities and has reached 
the public ear, for it is comnienO' d by the Kalfigh Stunttinil in terms of high 
eulogy, such .vs the productions ol Mr. Badger's pen have always merited. I 
ask only a fair hearing-. 

I shall pursue, w liile I cm with honorand self respect, (he path my devo- 
ted affection for North Crroliua, and my duty as a citizen of the Ihiited .States 
point out to me. 1 shall continui- pp. eS'orts, at least alleviating tlie inevita- 
ble sufi'ering that always accon)pani(_s the niarch of an aimy, and animated by 
the hope that some occasion may aiise in w liich my iiumble abilities luny aid 
in the restoration of peace — honorable peace — indispensable to the welfare of 
the people of North Carolina, and desiied, I contidtntly believe, by a largo 
majority of thtm. 

And though Mr. Bad':;er and other Jionorable arcl most estimable gentle- 
men may hold cut threats of the denunciations of the [iress, and the loss of 
their good opinioB which I should deeply deplore, still I have the Cunsolatiou 
of kiiowing that thousands of patriot genllemen, Noilii and Soiitlit their 
equals in position and in chara'-lrr, long honored by evidence of ptiblic con- 
fidence, sustain me by their approbation, and earnestly hope lor the succe.ss- 
ful termination of my labors 

But above all, the .still i-mall voice of conscience, \\hispers in gentle tones, 
that I am doing nothing ur.btcoming an honest paliiot : nothing that forbids 
the reasonable and holy hojie, that my t li'orts may liually meet the approba- 
tion of Heaven 

Very respectfully yours, 

BDWAKl) STANLY. 



POSTORIPT. 

T have been waiting several days, for a flag of truce, that I uiiglit send a 
manuscript co})y of this letter to Mr Badger. In the nieantiuie, anotiier 
number of the Weekly llaleigh Standard, of July 23d, captured with several 
prisoners, has reached me, by which 1 see Mr. Badger has published a letter, 
written about the tirst day of June last, for and at me, though directed to Mr. 
Ely, of New York C'ity. , 

I had too mucli regard for Mr. Badger, to mention to any one.tliat he had 
written such a letter; but without mentioning his name, in a speech made in 
Wasiiington. N. C , on ]7th June last, I commented upon the charges made 
by him against the t^iovernment ot the United States. 

It was chiefly in answer to this speech, that his letter to you was written. 

Now you have my answer to him. Can I hope f«>r fair play .' — that what 
is said, on both sides, will bo published .' 

I liave concluded there can be no impropriety in pul)lishiiig what I have 
writtsn. 



10 

I have but, one request to make. Voii know Mr. L'ia(1g:er is my kinsmnn. 
Our fathers were fiieiids, before either of us was horn. 1 cannot carry on a 
personal controversy with Iiim. If he is to be the Hector of this horrible war, 
let his pen be used, under ilie name of some cat's paw of the Confederate 
authorities. If he — at present safe in the interior, but forgetful of the losses, 
suffering's and dangers to, befal ilmse inliabitinfr he Seaboard Couniies. — if 
he will prostitute his talents, in tiying to ii]timidate all who wi.sb for iioiior- 
able peace ; so f.-tr ».•; the cause is concei ned, 1 ask no tax ors Let him furtiish 
arguments aiid words, tor some other man. I ask this in kindness I desire 
to be free to reply, when provocation is g-iven, in such terms as my antag-onist 
may deserve, 'i'here are so many men:oiies, of the dead and of the living;, 
which 1 could not and would not foiget, associate d with his name. T am ex- 
oeedintily averse to an unkind controversy willi him. If he must Avrite, let 
bini reason with power and asseit with coi.lidenct — no man can ilo so better — 
and I do not shrink from the controversy. The cause that T defend is strone 
even in my hands, Hut if he writes to, or of me ajj^ain, 1 hope lie will lay 
aside his railing, his accusations, and his idle attempts at intimidation, 

EDW, .STANLV. 



iii 



